Officials OK cameras on buses

Anne M. Amato

Published 11:04 pm, Friday, November 9, 2012

SHELTON -- It shouldn't happen, but it does. The school bus slows to a stop and the yellow -- then red -- lights flash. Most drivers know this means stop, and they do.

But for a callous minority of motorists, the lights mean nothing. They don't slow down, they don't stop. They continue on and pass the school bus -- endangering the lives of children getting on or off the bus.

Enter Smart Bus Live LLC.

The Board of Aldermen this week gave that company the OK to place external cameras on city school buses to catch scofflaws who ignore the stop lights

"I think it's a good thing," said Alderman Eric McPherson, who once drove a school bus part-time. "There are people who don't obey the signals and this is a good tool to track those people down."

Alderman Anthony Simonetti agreed, saying the cameras will help "detect the people" who violate the law and "catch them, so they can be fined."

That fine can range from $100 to $500 for a first offense and from $500 to $1,000 for subsequent offenses. The violator could also face jail time of up to 30 days for repeat offenses.

Simonetti said Mayor Mark A. Lauretti made it clear at Thursday's meeting that this was a proactive step and not prompted by any incident in the city.

"He wanted this in place before anything happened. I think any time we can be preemptive, we should," Simonetti said. "Kids getting off a school bus shouldn't have to worry about crossing the street. A lot of times the danger of other cars isn't on their minds. They are more focused on getting home and telling about their day at school. Their mind isn't on the road."

The cameras will not cost the city any money because the company will be compensated based on how many lawbreakers are caught.

"The mayor approached the school superintendent about putting the cameras on the school buses," he said.

Oppel said the cameras will only be for external use and none will be placed inside the buses.

According to its website, SmartBus Live is a "third party vendor that aides law enforcement in the protection" of children on the school buses.

Its external cameras are able to catch violators in all lanes of traffic. The camera system has a live digital feed with recorded archives for backup.

"Our patent protected system allows for multiple layers of live quality control which enables law enforcement to ensure that only individuals who commit this egregious offense are issued tickets," according to the website.

The website also says that "school buses are the safest motor vehicles on the highway and are estimated to be 70 times safer than passenger cars, light trucks and vans."

The most dangerous part of the school bus ride, the site says, "is getting on and off the bus."